liveaboard, why do it?

[BuzzFan]

As an armchair dreamer, who may well drop out for 2-5 years to cruise parts of the world, I'm curious, in the philosophical sense, why others choose to do it?

I'd like to travel & use a cruise to explore & see places, but I can also completely see the appeal of chilling out on a yacht, without going anywhere - a summer of reading, swimming, painting & climbing sounds heaven . But I also but wonder if staying put too long in any area might be a waste of life...then I start wondering what's the point of life at all, and feel a bit daft (no I havent been at the xmas tipple - yet!)

So could those who have taken 2-20 years off explain what their motivation is, how worthwhile their trips have been, and what, if anything, they'd have changed?

 

[duncan99210]

Just do it and stop worrying about existenial nonsense.

 

[maby]

You are making the assumption that "liveaboard" is synonymous with "cruise the world" - I know several people that live on a boat but travel less than a hundred miles in a year. In fact last year friends of friends who live on a yacht in the Med racked up the grand total of fifty miles which was the distance to the next marina!

 

[chinita]

But I also but wonder if staying put too long in any area might be a waste of life...then I start wondering what's the point of life at all, and feel a bit daft

Yes, I almost thought along those lines myself whilst nibbling my mozzarella and tomato salad, sipping chilled white wine, watching the sunset after yet another glorious day of Algarvian sunshine.

I suppose you could be right.

I will try to think it about it again tomorrow - after the Xmas day beach BBQ.

 

[nathanlee]

Indeed, I've not been anywhere for a couple of years.

There are lots of liveaboards who just stay put, or go day sailing, or just take an annual 2/3 week jolly, then come back and continue staying put.

p.s. Has anybody else got wind. It's blowing something daft in NW Blighty.

 

[TQA]

As an armchair dreamer, who may well drop out for 2-5 years to cruise parts of the world, I'm curious, in the philosophical sense, why others choose to do it?

I'd like to travel & use a cruise to explore & see places, but I can also completely see the appeal of chilling out on a yacht, without going anywhere - a summer of reading, swimming, painting & climbing sounds heaven . But I also but wonder if staying put too long in any area might be a waste of life...then I start wondering what's the point of life at all, and feel a bit daft (no I havent been at the xmas tipple - yet!)

So could those who have taken 2-20 years off explain what their motivation is, how worthwhile their trips have been, and what, if anything, they'd have changed?

Took 7 years off in my 40s. Bought a cheap steel boat and set off to get to the Caribbean and maybe RTW, but fell in love with the Windies. Did my 7 years went back to work retired and am back out here currently in Bequia for Christmas. Probably go in tonight for a Christmas Eve concert on the beach under the almond tree and a swim before breakfast tomorrow. Oh yes sunsets are good too!

 

[westernman]

Indeed, I've not been anywhere for a couple of years.

There are lots of liveaboards who just stay put, or go day sailing, or just take an annual 2/3 week jolly, then come back and continue staying put.

p.s. Has anybody else got wind. It's blowing something daft in NW Blighty.

Yes. It has been blowing gale force or more down here for the last month. At least it seems like it has been a month.

 

[jonic]

Yes, I almost thought along those lines myself whilst nibbling my mozzarella and tomato salad, sipping chilled white wine, watching the sunset after yet another glorious day of Algarvian sunshine.

I suppose you could be right.

I will try to think it about it again tomorrow - after the Xmas day beach BBQ.

+1

 

[OldBawley]

We lived 10 Nm from the sea. One sunny Sunday our family went to Knokke by the sea. I was sitting on a self made child stool in front of my father, my little sister in a stool on the back of his bike. Our youngest baby brother behind mam on her bike. Her bike had yellow wooden wheel rims.
Some weeks later I drove to the sea myself. My bike was red. Sat long on a stair to the beach and looked over the water. Even find my way home, was 6 or 7. Mam was very angry with me but didn’t tell dad.
We had an uncle who was a pig merchant. He had a car with on top of it big reed baskets. In there ware the piglets he bought from farmers and sold to others. One day in winter he was on a farm along the canal some 17 km from our house and saw a little kid towing a sledge ploughing true the snow. The kid was wearing a cowboy hat and the covered sledge had a tent made of a old jute potato bag. That is how he recognised me. He brought me home in his car. Wow, a real car.
I had asthma, was a small kid. Could not play with other boys or play football, was always on my own. Read 4 books a week, the library was next to the church. I was a dreamer.
I am a old man now, yesterday evening, Christmas eve, mam called me. She has a hump now but is still cooking Christmas dinner for the whole family. That is, the whole family except me. I went of 25 years ago. My son, father, brother and sister and then mam came on the phone. Mam was in a hurry, orchestrated the cooking.
I am anchored somewhere in Greece now, mam said “ well, you have always been a bit of a gipsy, I wonder who you have that from”

 

[silver-fox]

You will meet people you otherwise wouldn't meet.
You will go places you otherise wouldn't go.
You will do things you otherwise wouldn't do.

You may love it as we do .. or you may hate it .....but you could be so busy living life, you probably won't have time to wonder about the meaning of life, the universe, and all that

 

[Slow_boat]

We have a number of acquaintences who have holiday or retirement places around the med. They are stuck in one place. Our idea is to have a place in the sun that we can move on whenever we want.

Anyway, my brother was living at the end of the Ramblas in Barcelona for something like 3,5000 euros PA, including water and lecky. That's about the same as he was paying per month for his flat in Barcelonetta. That seems like a good argument to me.

 

[maby]

We have a number of acquaintences who have holiday or retirement places around the med. They are stuck in one place. Our idea is to have a place in the sun that we can move on whenever we want.

Anyway, my brother was living at the end of the Ramblas in Barcelona for something like 3,5000 euros PA, including water and lecky. That's about the same as he was paying per month for his flat in Barcelonetta. That seems like a good argument to me.

That's our thinking exactly. You can have a very liveable boat in the mid-thirty foot range second-hand for £50k - less if you are prepared to do a bit of rennovation - and something brand new in the mid-forty foot range for less than £200k - try finding a holiday flat anywhere for £50k!

 

[jonic]

That's our thinking exactly. You can have a very liveable boat in the mid-thirty foot range second-hand for £50k - less if you are prepared to do a bit of rennovation - and something brand new in the mid-forty foot range for less than £200k - try finding a holiday flat anywhere for £50k!

When this came on, I seriously said to SWMBO shall we forget buying the house and buy her instead and just park her somewhere nice and warm. (I'm still toying with the idea.)

 

[Zanziba]

Okay, my thoughts. You did ask...

What is the reason for life? Well in my view it is to be happy. What makes people happy? That's a question I think most people get wrong.

A) Security (Safety. Knowledge that food is readily available. Shelter from the elements)

B) Friends (Family, loved one, knowing you are liked and finding that you like others)

C) Contentment (Being in a place physically and mentally where you feel content. You don't feel the need to make changes to improve on what you have, or at least not drastic changes).

So, why have aI chosen to live on a yacht?

A) It is my home, I have bought it, I have few bills and no matter what happens in the economy I feel I can carry on living the life I have. It is warm, dry and affords protection. I sleep soundly at night and usually grin as I snuggle down, something a house has somehow failed to afford (primarily due to the mortgage and bills)

B) I live in a marina. I have found people here friendly and I have a few I consider friends not just people I know. I also still live near my land loving friends.

C) I feel happy and comfortable. There is a sense that I can leave if I wish, tour, explore (not that I have yet). I do want a larger yacht due to family commitments so I am not fully content but I feel a happiness that comes only from knowing you do not want or need more in your life.

I chose a yacht to escape the grind, to fulfill a dream and to make my future that which I wanted. I'm very glad that I did.

 

[maby]

When this came on, I seriously said to SWMBO shall we forget buying the house and buy her instead and just park her somewhere nice and warm. (I'm still toying with the idea.)

Wow, that's a lot of sails! We have enough trouble with just two!

Seriously nice boat - though you are into the realms of a rather nice flat as far as price is concerned... We're making plans to downsize the house to a small flat and upsize the boat to a SO44ds.

 

[Maurice55]

Along with a few others, the first reason is that it can be cheap.
We live in Corsica and all told, harbour fee and maintenance of the boat would not pay for three months rent of a small flat around here.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

My expenses came to £2500 last year, not including food or refit costs, which is on going. Don't use the head on board, so have to walk to loo. Must fetch water, but wouldn't live in house again.

 

[Jassira]

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currently in Bequia for Christmas. Probably go in tonight for a Christmas Eve concert on the beach under the almond tree and a swim before breakfast tomorrow. Oh yes sunsets are good too!

yeah sure, but other than all that ?